Tiraspol, December 25./Novosti Pridnestrovya/. On December 25, 1907, the Hero of the Soviet Union Georgy Chernienko was born in Tiraspol.
He was drafted into the Red Army in 1929. He served in the anti-aircraft artillery regiment, then entered the first military school of pilots in Sevastopol. Army service began in the Navy, then served at the Stalin School of Airmen as a pilot instructor and commander. From November 1939, he continued his service in aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, as part of the 2nd Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment. The Great Patriotic War began when he served there.
The squadron commander of the 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment, Guard Major Georgy Chernienko had carried out 152 successful combat missions by June 1943. The aircraft squadron entrusted to him destroyed 6 transport ships, self-propelled barges, ammunition depots, railway hubs, 35 aircraft at enemy airfields, more than 40 tanks, about three thousand enemy soldiers and officers.
For exemplary performance of command tasks and the courage, on July 24, 1943, Major Chernienko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Red Star, medals «For combat merit», Golden Star, «For the defense of Odessa», «For the defense of Sevastopol», «For the defense of the Caucasus».
After the war, Georgy Chernienko continued his service, graduated from the Higher Officer Courses of the Air Force, and was discharged in 1955.
Georgy Chernienko died on February 17, 1982. He was buried in the Tairov Cemetery in Odessa. In his native city Tiraspol, Chernienko's name is immortalized on a memorial plaque installed on the building of the gymnasium he graduated from.
